Australian residents aged 15 years and over spent an estimated 298.7 million nights visiting other parts of the country in 2002 (table 21.2). Each trip took an average of 4.0 nights and each person in the population (aged 15 years and over) made an average of 4.8 trips during 2002. Residents of the Australian Capital Territory were the most frequent travellers (averaging 6.9 tripsper person), while residents of the Northern Territory tended to stay away for the longest period (averaging 7.0 nightsper trip).

Domestic visitor nights refer to the number of nights Australian residents aged 15 years and over spent away from home in association with individual visits.

The number of domestic visitor nights grew 3.1% in 2002 compared to 2001. Domestic visitor nights in Tasmania showed the strongest growth (10.1%), following negative growth in previous years. The Australian Capital Territory was the only state/territory which recorded negative growth (down 6.4%) in 2002 compared to 2001, (table 21.3).

The average annual growth rate for domestic visitor nights in Australia between 1998 and 2002 was 0.4%. Queensland had the highest average annual growth rate (2.3%) between 1998 and 2002. Tasmania had the lowest average annual growth rate (-1.1%) between 1998 and 2002.

(a) Australian residents aged 15 years and over.(b) Sourced from 'Australian Demographic Statistics, June Quarter 2002' (3101.0).(c) Includes Other Territories.

Source: Bureau of Tourism Research, 'National Visitor Survey'.

21.3 VISITOR NIGHTS(a), By state/territory of destination

Destination

NSW

Vic.

Qld

SA

WA

Tas.

NT

ACT

Aust.(b)

’000

’000

’000

’000

’000

’000

’000

’000

’000

1998

94,862

55,718

69,658

20,232

29,770

9,177

7,683

5,253

293,456

1999

93,866

52,565

78,083

19,272

29,219

8,517

6,430

5,963

294,266

2000

92,559

54,039

74,087

21,251

28,857

8,139

7,914

6,467

293,384

2001

89,447

55,747

75,002

19,508

28,068

7,970

7,174

5,749

289,644

2002

93,269

56,684

76,342

20,424

29,748

8,775

7,518

5,382

298,658

(a) Australian residents aged 15 years and over.(b) Includes unspecified and offshore visits that could not be allocated to a state/territory.

Source: Bureau of Tourism Research, 'National Visitor Survey'.

'Holiday/leisure' was the main purpose of 46% of domestic visitor nights in 2002. 'Holiday/leisure' accounted for the largest proportion of visitor nights in almost every state/territory. The exception was the Australian Capital Territory, where 'visiting friends/relatives' accounted for the largest share of visitor nights in 2002 (table 21.4).

New South Wales was the most popular destination in 2002, accounting for almost a third of all visitor nights (31%). Queensland was the next most popular destination, with over a quarter of all visitor nights (26%).

21.4 VISITOR NIGHTS(a), By state/territory of destination and main purpose of visit - 2002

Business

Holiday/leisure

Visiting friends/relatives

Other

Total(b)

’000

’000

’000

’000

’000

New South Wales

13,227

42,516

32,468

3,809

93,269

Victoria

7,359

25,423

19,877

3,141

56,684

Queensland

10,083

39,535

20,849

4,427

76,342

South Australia

3,092

8,769

6,778

1,192

20,424

Western Australia

6,197

12,757

7,871

1,493

29,748

Tasmania

1,670

4,579

1,905

480

8,775

Northern Territory

2,439

3,235

1,035

*227

7,518

Australian Capital Territory

1,468

1,522

2,027

*350

5,382

Australia(c)

46,000

138,381

92,814

15,118

298,658

(a) Australian residents aged 15 years and over.(b) Includes visitor nights where purpose of visit was not stated.(c) Components may not add to total as total includes unspecified and offshore visits that could not be allocated to a state or territory.

Source: Bureau of Tourism Research, 'National Visitor Survey'.

In 2002 the most frequently used accommodation by domestic travellers was the property of friends or relatives (41% of visitor nights), followed by hotels, resorts, motels and motor inns (23%) (table 21.5).

21.5 VISITOR NIGHTS(a), Type of accommodation used - 2002

NSW

Vic.

Qld

SA

WA

Tas.

NT

ACT

Aust.(b)

’000

’000

’000

’000

’000

’000

’000

’000

’000

Hotel, resort, motel, motor inn

22,082

11,662

20,037

3,788

5,296

2,484

1,742

1,881

69,436

Guest house/B&B

1,445

1,256

*391

*281

472

*447

**36

**27

4,355

Self-catering cottage/apartment

8,826

4,436

11,765

1,572

2,377

652

*452

*290

30,371

Caravan park or commercial camping ground

9,511

5,950

5,517

2,831

3,700

967

1,084

*201

29,761

Caravan or camping on private property

3,057

2,050

3,002

668

2,117

*412

676

**62

12,046

Friends’ or relatives’ property

41,063

25,301

28,522

8,590

10,992

2,578

1,851

2,702

121,648

Own property (e.g. holiday house)

3,334

3,254

2,185

947

946

*381

**14

**18

11,078

Other/not stated(c)

2,700

1,892

3,474

1,154

2,416

713

1,079

*186

13,616

Total(d)

93,269

56,684

76,342

20,424

29,748

8,775

7,518

5,382

298,658

(a) Australian residents aged 15 years and over.(b) Components may not add to total as total includes unspecified and offshore visits that could not be allocated to a state or territory.(c) Other accommodation includes backpacker/hostel, university/school dormitory/college, hospital/hospital-related accommodation for relatives, and privately owned boat/yacht etc.(d) Includes visitor nights where accommodation type was not stated.

Source: Bureau of Tourism Research, 'National Visitor Survey'.

Intrastate visits accounted for 56% of domestic tourism visitor nights in 2002. Intrastate visits were particularly important in Western Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. In these states 71%, 64% and 60% respectively of domestic visitor nights spent in the state were by residents of the state (table 21.6).

In terms of numbers of visitor nights, net beneficiaries from domestic tourism (i.e. where inbound interstate visitor nights are greater than outbound interstate visitor nights) in 2002 were Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory. Queensland benefited most from tourism in relative terms, with over twice as many inbound visitor nights as outbound visitor nights. Victoria contributed the most to tourism in relative terms, with the number of outbound visitor nights over one and a half times that of inbound visitor nights.

21.6 VISITOR NIGHTS(a) - 2002

Destination

NSW

Vic.

Qld

SA

WA

Tas.

NT

ACT

Aust.

Residence

’000

’000

’000

’000

’000

’000

’000

’000

’000

New South Wales

60,034

10,490

20,801

2,725

2,418

1,875

1,236

2,954

102,531

Victoria

12,837

33,983

11,220

3,585

2,759

2,069

1,977

1,108

69,538

Queensland

10,372

3,163

37,592

833

1,684

528

1,005

598

56,243

South Australia

2,921

3,997

2,185

10,889

1,032

*456

*425

*383

22,287

Western Australia

1,403

2,003

1,158

1,106

21,177

622

996

*186

28,698

Tasmania

759

1,635

1,121

*214

*137

3,065

*108

**63

7,101

Northern Territory

666

*413

1,097

816

*167

**84

1,683

**71

4,999

Australian Capital Territory

4,277

1,000

1,168

*257

*373

**77

**88

**20

7,261

Total(b)

93,269

56,684

76,342

20,424

29,748

8,775

7,518

5,382

298,658

(a) Australian residents aged 15 years and over.(b) Includes other and not stated.